Indoor driving challenge begins

31 October 2001

Driving competitors welcome start of the Strongid P indoor season

With the outdoor national and club driving trial seasons almost non-existent this year, competitors welcomed the start of the Strongid-P Indoor Driving Trial National Championships. Six events were held during October.

In the South-East old adversaries did battle at Blue Barn, Kent. Trevor Kimber, with his pair of palomino sections Cs, won the multiples, whileHilary Hill began her single horse challenge with her 12-year-old home-bred Hanoverian/Hackney mare. Sara Howe triumphed in the open pony section just 1.5 points ahead of Katie Hughes.

At Hurstbourne in Hants, Beverley Ball won the open horse with her 11-year-old Welsh/Trotter mare, while Jo Sore took the open pony with her New Forest, Richard.

At Stags End, Herts, Lynne Harrington and her section D, Ace won the open pony, with one of their lowest overall scores ever. Gareth Roberts, who manages Stags End, had a good win in the multiples with his section As, whom he also scurry drives. David Titmus took the open horse with his section D, Lew.

At Gracelands, Worcs, 25 competitors travelled from as far afield as Wales, Cheshire and Warwickshire to take part. The novice horse class was won by Tony Gregory with Jacqui Pillinger taking the multiples section. Julie Tomasik narrowly defeated Judith Broome in the open single pony. The biggest class, the novice pony, went to Sara Clough.

Fifteen-year-old Donna Ryder was the winner of the overall championship at Lethame House in Lanarkshire, host to two events in October. Donna, and her lively 11-year-old, Tebay Shadow, won the open single pony class at the first event.

Scotland’s top single horse driver, Ian Bertram, and his chestnut Quarter Horse, Beltane Star, reigned supreme in their class and were overall champions at the second event.

To read the full report see this week’s issue (1 November) of Horse & Hound magazine, or click here to subscribe.

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